Showing posts with label A-190. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A-190. Show all posts

Friday, March 21, 2014

More A-190-4 MIDI-CV/Gate/Sync Interface Specifications

Last year, quickly after the A-190-4 prototype suddenly appeared in the wild, i already contacted Dieter Doepfer about some of the specs of the module.

The Doepfer A-190-4 will be the new replacement for module A-190-1 which is no longer available.
The functions of A-190-1 and A-190-4 are nearly the same (Midi In, Midi Out, CV1, CV2, Gate, Clock, Reset), but the operation of the A-190-4 has been improved because a 3-digit LED display is available.

The current values of all parameters (like Midi channel, reference note, clock divider) can be read back and modified by means of up/down buttons.
In addition A-190-4 is equipped with an USB interface and the external +5V supply is no longer available.

A-190(-1)  MIDI-CV/Sync
Interface
The A-190-1 has 2  DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters)
In the original A-190-1 DAC 1 is 'hard-wired' to receive MIDI note messages and convert them into control voltages available at CV output socket CV 1. This DAC has 12-bit resolution, which gives excellent tuning resolution (in steps of 1/4096th). As a rule, DAC 1 will be used to control VCO pitch.
DAC 2 can be assigned to your choice of MIDI controller. This DAC has 7-bit resolution (1/128th steps).

At the time (almost one year ago) Dieter couldn't tell much about the processing power and if any other functions would be available (arpeggiator? like the A-190-3), but this week I have managed to get a bit more info.
Christian Assall, software developer at Doepfer, was kind enough to explain a few more things about the A-190-4 via e-mail:

A-190-4 Prototype
- "The A-190-4 will have 2 new DACs... Because the development of the A-190-1 was now before more than 15 years, it makes sense to use modern pieces."

- "DAC2 will now also be 12 bit and will have a range of 0 ... 10 + volt ( but can also only use it for velocity/controller and things similar to the A190-1 , but not for pitch/tune controlling like the CV1 - so it's not possible to control two voices - because you also have only one gate ;-) - for polyphonic things we have the A190-5 in development"

About future firmware updates:
- "As the next development in schedule list is the A-190-5 - which is something like a 'great' brother of the A-190-4 - the A-190-4 has in most cases the possibility to inherit his features...
...so it's more a question of what we and the users want and decide to include in a preferably easy to use CV-interface the A-190-4 should be... This also belongs to the topic arpeggiator."

The A-190-1 Arpeg. mode never got released 
About the somewhat hidden arpeggiator-function in the A-190-3:
- " It's more a cost-free present or an eastern-egg like thing than a real feature in my eyes, because it hasn't any dedicated switches or display for that - so I think it's for many users hard to use ...
But if you can - sure you can use it and you can do some arp. things without any additional devices/software ...."

- " We never released this feature in the A-190-1, mostly because of the not optimal user interface, that was not suited in our eyes for additional and such a complex features.
An arp. should have a dedicated/suitable user interface - otherwise it didn't make much sense in my experience/eyes.
Sure also the weak processor power was a reason, not to try with many tricks to get an arp. which is in timing and didn't interfere with the other functions of the module.
So, never to release, was more a matured consideration that came from practical experiences..."

The A-190-1 will be replaced by the A-190-4 from about April 2014.
As of April, the Doepfer BS basic systems will come with an A-190-4 installed...

Thursday, May 03, 2012

Doepfer M.A.U.S.I.

The Doepfer MAUSI (MIDI-Analog / SYNC Interface) was released in 1995 (around the same time as the A-100 system) and was a MIDI-to-CV and MIDI-to-SYNC interface to control analog vintage synthesizers, bass lines and/or drum machines via MIDI.

Doepfer MAUSI front

It was a small, half 19-inch sized grey box, and until a few weeks ago, i never realized why the Doepfer MAUSI looked so familiar to me.
An email from Dieter Doepfer confirmed that not only on the outside, but also internally this module is for 95% the same as the A-190 MIDI-to-CV/Gate/Sync Interface.
One of the small differences between these two modules is that the MAUSI had a DIN SYNC output, and the A-190 has a clock and a reset output.
Doepfer explained to me: " In modular systems the RESET feature was more popular than the Start/Stop of
the DIN SYNC, but after all it's nearly the same (just the opposite levels: Start/Stop of DIN SYNC goes high at the Start and low at the Stop, RESET goes low at the Start and high at the Stop)"

Doepfer MAUSI backside
MAUSI allowed you to control synthesizers via either V/octave (Moog, Roland, Sequential, A-100) or Hz/V characteristics (Korg, Yamaha).
Beside that, you could also switch between gate/trigger (+5...+12V) or switched trigger control (S-Trigger).

Around 400 MAUSI's were made from September 1995 until April 2000
MAUSI included an external power supply for 230V AC.
For other mains voltages the power supply had to be purchased separately by the customer. (7...12V DC/500mA with 2.1 or 2.5mm connector required).

Find more info in the English User's Guide of MAUSI.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Controlling the A-100 via MIDI

In the beginning it was not difficult to pick a Doepfer MIDI-CV interface for your A-100 system.
The A-190 MIDI-CV/SYNC Interface was the only one available and there were not many other options.  (the A-191 MIDI-to-CV Interface / Shepard Generator was way more complex, i will discuss it in a future blogpost).
The A-190 is a powerful module that not only provides a few CV and Gate outputs, but also Portamento, Scale-settings, Pitch-bend, Glide, Clock and Reset signals, has a built-in (software) LFO and very flexible programmability.
Without a proper display it is quite awkward to program, but you'll quickly learn how to read the combinations of burning and flashing LEDs.
I do miss some further (software) development for this module. The arpeggio function, mentioned on the front-plate isn't even implemented (!)

A cheaper option that you can buy nowadays is the  A-190-2 Midi CV/Gate interface, which is based on the Doepfer MCV4Only some minor changes were made for a better adaption to the A-100 system, e.g. five 3.5 mm sockets and zero-symmetrical CV for pitch bend, to be able to adjust the pitch bend range e.g. in combination with the precision CV adder A-185-2 and the glide function.
The module has no MIDI Thru and MIDI clock and reset functions though.

The new A-190-3 USB/MIDI-to-CV/Gate Interface that is in production stage has almost the same possibilities, but will be a modular version of Doepfer's upcoming Dark Link Module. This one will support USB and the release date for it is set for early 2011.
Another advantage of these two cheaper modules is that they don't need the additional +5V adapter. 

If you are looking for a polyphonic MIDI-CV contoller you will probably have to wait a while. Doepfer is busy working on the A-190-5, but it will be completely redesigned this year. A final version will  probably contain an LC display (similar to the A-187-1), some control buttons, a USB interface and higher resolution DACs with higher voltage range (probably 12 bit and 0...+10V). It will be a four voice polyphonic Midi to CV/Gate interface with 12 CV and 4 Gate outputs and different modes (e.g. unisono, four-fold monophonic, different four voice polyphonic modes.)

Tip: The monophonic MIDI-CV converters can write and read to the A-100 Busboard, more info on this HERE

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Busboard Access

Updated August 25th 2011

A good patch can sometimes turn out to a whole spaghetti of patchcables.
Luckily Doepfer provided the A-100 system with a subsystem that makes the routing of some Gate and CV signals through the internal busboard-system possible.

It's too bad that not all modules have this ability, but for some modules this is a good way to avoid "over-wiring" your system with patch-cables.

Only modules A-110 (Standard VCO), A-111 (High end VCO), A-111-5 (Mini Synth. Voice), A-140 (ADSR), A-164-1 (Manual Gate), A-185-1 (Bus Access), A-185-2 (Precision Adder) and A-190-1,2,3 and 4 (Midi Interfaces) have access to the CV or Gate signal of the A-100 busboard.

The A-164-1, A-185 (-1 and 2) and A-190 (-1,2 and 3) can be used to "write" the busboard, i.e. they can output the signals to the bus.

The others are able to "read" the busboard, i.e. they pick up the signals CV (A-110, A-111, A111-5) resp. Gate (A-140, A-164-1) from the bus.
The A-111-5 can pick up CV and Gate from the bus. Also the planned A-143-4 Quad VCLFO/VCO will be able to read the A-100's busboard.
For details please refer to the user manuals of these Doepfer modules.

Most of the modules come with jumpers inside that can connect or disconnect the signal from and to the busboard. If other modules should be able to "write" or "read" the bus some of them can be modified. More on this in a future modding blogpost.

Doepfer warns on their DIY-site for shortcircuiting modules and/or busboard, so please take note:
Pay attention that only one module is allowed to "write" to the same bus signal.  If two or more modules write to the bus this leads to a short circuit of the corresponding outputs.
Please let me know if i forgot some modules in the Feedback section of this post, thank you!

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Best Friends Forever IV - XL Edition

This next quick patch is a small extension of my earlier Best Friends Forever posts.

Although i don't always use this patch, i do like the simplicity of it, getting me more out of my Slew Limiter.

As blogged earlier, I use the A-182-1 Switched Multiple mainly to switch between my keyboard ( via MIDI ) and my A-198 Ribbon Controller.
For this i split up this Multiple in two halves, the upper half controls the Gate, the lower half controls the pitch ( CV )

The black cables that go into the Switched multiple are for ( quantized ) Ribbon Control if channel 2 is selected, the yellow ones are for keyboard control, via channel 1

The only advantage in this patch is that i am now using both halfs of the A-170 Slew Limiter, the lower ( and more extended half ) for the Ribbon Controller, the upper half for the incoming output of the MIDI-CV Interface.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Best Friends Forever II

Two other modules i hardly ever unwire are the A-190 MIDI-CV/Sync Interface and the A-182-1 Switched Multiple.
I use this combination to quickly switch between my Keyboard and my A-198 Ribbon Controller to control various sounds.

Like i did with my A-180, i split up the A-182-1 into a 2 x 4 Multiplier.
The lower half handles the Gate signal while the upper half handles the CV/Pitch.

The yellow cables from the A-190 go directly into the Multiplier, and the black cables that go into the Multiplier come (almost) directly from the A-198 Trautonium/Ribbon Controller's outputs, one rack lower.
With the red switches i can now manually decide what instrument i would like to use for the sound i am working on...

If i switch it to 1 it uses my MIDI keyboard, if switched to 2 i can use my Ribbon Controller.